Ribbon-supporting mechanism.



P. DIGNAN.

RIBBQN SUPPORTING MECHANISMJ.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I3, |916.

@Patented Sept. 25, 191?.

Hummm v Ilm' PERCIVAL DIGNAN, fllltlvif..YORK, N. Y.

RIBBON-surronrine ivrncHANi-sivr.

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 61,004, filed November 12, 1915.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

This application filed May and moving it toypresent a fresh portion to bey acted upon.

` Another object is to provide hiking-ribbon supporting and moving mechanism in which the moving mechanism is reversible.

' Another object is to providel reversing inking-ribbon moving mechanism, the reversing of whichis controlled by the ribbon.

Other and further objects and advantages willV appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings forming lpart of this specification, and will be pointed out in the hereunto-annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate similar parts, A

[Figure 1 is a plan view of yan inking-ribbon device embodying a preferred form of my invention. n

Fig. 2"is a partial sectional view of the device shown in Fig. l, with parts removed; and

F ig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the ribbonl reelsjshowing a part of the reversing mechanism'.

My co-pendin-g application, Serial No. 61,004, filed November 12, 1915, for printing machines, discloses an inking ribbon sup- Dorting and movingr mechanism and the invention herein disclosed embodies the broad features of said mechanism and this specication constitutes a continuation so far as any common subject-matter is concerned of the said co-pending application.

In order to disclose my invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is herein described and illustrated, but itisto be linderstood that my invention contemplates all variatims, modifications and adaptations -whichuuay' occur to those skilled in the art,

and it'is' to beunderstood that my invention not limited to the specilic details herein set forth for the purpose of disclosing it.

`Riblmn-supporting mechanisms embodying my invention maybe used in connection with ya great number of; devices, among which may be mentioned` printing devices, and it is evident that there will be a base plate of some character, such, for instance, als the base plate 1, upon which the mechanism is mounted. Plates Q and 3 support l the ribbon reels 3 land et, respectively, upon shafts and 6. Between the end of each reel-and the plate 2, there is positioned a thrust washer 7, and a spring 8, encircling theJ shaftfof each reel, vis held under tension by the vlock nuts 9 so that the reels are held againstg'moving too freely. A reel-turning member 10, comprising in this embodiment of my invention a fiat plate, is mounted for reciprocation. In this embodiment, the mounting of the reel-turning member is accomplished by passing screws 11 through slotslQ in the plate 10 and into the plate 3. F iXed, respectively, to the shafts 5 and ,6 are ratchet'wheels 13 and 14, and pawls 15 and 1G, mounted upon the reel-turning member 1 0, respectively coperate with the ratchet wheels 13 and 14. The pawls are pressed toward their corresponding ratchet wheels by 'thespringsll and are restrained from cooperating with the ratchet wheels when cooperation is not desired bythe pins 18as will be more fully described hereinafter.

"Mounted upon the plate 3 arespring casings V19, in which there are mounted for recip'rocation cam members 20, which are forcedvk into their outermost position b v springs''l, and the outermost position of which islimited by the lock nuts'QQ. Each cam member 9.0 has two active faces 23and Q4., positioned substantially at right angles. The reel-moving member 10 has coperating cams, comprising corresponding faces 23 and 24. The mounting of the cam members 20 is such that the faces coperate with the faces 2li', as shown in Fig. 3, or the member 10 may beA moved to the rightso far'that theedge or crest formed by the junction of the faces of the two cams 20 will slip fast the edge or crest formed by the faces ofthe camson the member 10 and tho faces 24 will rcoperate with the faces 2 It will be seen that when the parts are in thev position shown in Fig. 2, if the member yso the wheel lili, which may be called the active' wheel, for the member 10 is so adjusted that wheel 14 has its corresponding pawl inl colt will be seen' operative relation thereto, l A thatl reciprocation of the member 10 to this extent will cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the reel et, so that the ribbon 25 will be wound upon it. l

The ends of the reel-turning member 10 are beveled off at 26, and the sloping rfaces 27 ot the actuating members 27 cooperate with the beveled faces 26. The members 27 are mounted upon the base plate 1 for sliding by means of the pins 28 passing` through the slots 29, and also by means of the extensions 27 passing through the loops 30, which Vare secured to the base plate 1. Springs 32 surround the extensions 27 and abut against the members 27 and the loops 30, and tend always to press forward the members 27. Links 33 are pivoted to the loops 30 and have connected to them, by means of a pin-.and-slot connection 321, the yoke 35, comprising separate arms, which are pivoted to and reciprocated by the link 36 by some mechanism, which'may, for example, be a part of a printing machine of some character. Linksl33 connect links and member 27. e

The members27 are positioned relatively to the ends of the member 10, so that when the limiting members 37, which will be more fully described hereinafter, are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pressure of the cams 20 upon the cam faces on the member 10 will position the member 10, so that the tace 27 oft only one member 27 will actively cooperate with a face 2G, whereby a reciprocation of that member 27 will cause a reciprocation of the member 1 0. The limit- 'ving members will limit the movement of both the vactive and inactive .members 27 under the action of its spring 32, so that the member 10 will only be reciprocated tar enough by the active member 27 to move the active ratchet wheel 111 a distance equal to one of its teeth. When the member 37, which is acting to limit the extent of movement ot the active-member 27, is moved out of the path of said memberl 27, the member 10 is moved by the said. active member 27 far enough to cause the cams 2O to snap across the crest or edge ot the faces 23 and 24', so that they cooperate. no longer with vribbon-moving mechanism.

the faces 2lf but do cooperate with'the faces 23, and the pawl 15 is caused to engage the wheel 13, which 4thereafter becomes the active wheel. l

lt will be seen that, when the pawl 15 becomes the active pawl, a reciprocation of the member 1() will cause the ribbon to be wound upon the reel 3 instead ot upon the reel 4, rlhis constitutes a reversal of the ln order to bring about this reversal, the proper limiting member 37 is withdrawn from the path ot theactive member 27', so that the member 27 may move forward under the action of its spring 32 tar enough togive a greater reciprocation to the member' 10 than is necessary to move the ratchetwheel through the distance equal to the. length jof one of its teeth, which will result in thesnapping over or' the cam members 2O trom one set of faces, for example 2-1, to the-other set of faces, for example 23, on the member 10. lt .is perfectly apparent at this stage of the description that, when the cam members 20 are cooperating withthe faces 21", the pawl 16 and the ratchet wheel 1e are active and the member 27 at'the lett of 1 is active. lf the cam members 20 snap across to the faces 23, then the pawl'l and the ratchet wheel 13 become active and the member 27 at the right of Fig. 1 becomes active.

The limiting` members 37 are mounted on' has a sector Zlrcut from it, and this sector is secured to plate LMS, which fills upv'one end et the slot4-2 and (comprises a sector of the core 41. and which has attached to it one or more pins e7, which are surrounded by springs. rEhese springs are under tension rand act to slide` the sectors f5-out of theslots in the end 'Hanges'el into which they ht, so that, as the ribbon ,is unrolled from over the` plate 6, the springs 17 will push outfthe sectors 45, so that they will strike against lugs 48 on the limiting members 37 and push the limiting membersback out of the path ofthe members 27.

lt will be seen trom this structurel that when the -ribbon is so tar unwound from one `reel that the plate 46 ot that reel is uncovered.` the segment will slide out, and,

as the reel turns. it `will strike against the lugl ,1l-S and push the limiting member 37 out ott/he path ot the actuating member 27, so that the actuating member may, under the action oit the spring 32` move a greater distance than ordinarily movesy to," rotate 'l llt) the ratchet wheel through the distance of one tooth, and the member l() Will be moved so far that the cam members 20 will snap across from one set of cam faces on the member l0 to the other set of cam faces on the member l0, and the other'actuating member 27 Will thereupon become active and impart short reciprocations to the member 10, thereby causing the ribbon to Wind upon the other reel until. there is a reversal of the mechanism similar to that above described.

The connection between the links 33 and the yoke isa pin-and-slot connection, so that the movement of the link 36 and the yoke 35 may be always of the same magnitude, regardless of what limitation mayor may not be placed upon the movement of the members 27.

It is particularly to be noted that I do not intend that my invention shall be limited to the particular means for securing the reciprocation of the members 27, and'to the par-A l. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a

plurality of ribbon reels, a. reelrotating member adjustable to cooperate With either of said reels. means for impartingmotion thereto to effect the adjustment thereof and to effect the rotation of said reels, the rresult effected being dependent upon the extent of action of said means, and means for controlling the extent of such action, dependent upon the condition of the ribbon.

In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, a reel-rotating member, said member being reciprocable at a plurality'of positions respectively corresponding to and for cooperation with said reels, and va single member cooperating With said Iirst-named member for reciprmwating` said first-named member and positioning it.

In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, a reel-rotating member, said member being reciprocable at a plurality of positi ons respectively corresponding to and for cooperation 'with said reels,` and a single member cooperating With said first-named member for reciprocating said first-named member and setting it, the positioning action of said means being dependent upon the condition of the ribbon.

#'r. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism,"a ribbon reel, means for rotating said reel, including a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocating memberin one direction, a stationary member, Va cam formed on one of said members, and a yieldably-supported cam mounted on the other of said members and cooperating With said first-named cam to restore said member.

5. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a ribbon reel, means for rotating said reel, including a reciprocating member, means foractuating said reciprocating member in one direction, a stationary member, a twofaced cam formed on one of said members, anda yieldably-supported cam mounted on said other member and cooperating With said iirst-named cam to restore said reciprocating member or carry it from cooperative relation' With said reel according to the face of said tivo-faced cam acted upon by said other cam.

6. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a ribbon reel,means for rotating said reel, including a reciprocating member, means foractua-ting said reciprocating member in one direction, a stationary member, a tWofaced cam formed on one of said members, a yieldably-supported cam mounted on said other member and cooperating With said first-named cam to restore said reciprocating member or carry it from cooperative relation With said reel according to the face of said tivo-faced cam acted upon by said other cam, and means controlled by the condition of the ribbon for causing a change of cooperation of said cams from'one face to the other. l

7.v In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a plurality of ribbon reels, a reel-rotating member adapted to be adjusted to rotate either of said reels, a stationary member, a tivo-faced cam mounted on one of said members, a yielding cam mounted on the other said member` and cooperating `With either face' of said first-named cam according to the adjustment of said rotating member, said cams constitutingl restoring means for saidrotating member, and actuating means for said lreel-rotating member.

' S, In a ribbon-supporting mechanism` a. plurality of ribbon reels` a reel-rotating member adapted to be adjusted to rota-te either of said reels, a stationary member,.

a two-faced cam mounted on one of said members` a yielding cam mounted on the other said member and cooperating With either face of said first-named cam according to the adjustment of said rotating member, said cams constituting restoring means for said rotating member. actuating means for said reel-rotating member. and means controlled by the condition of the ribbon for changing the adjustment of said rotating member.

9. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism. a plurality of ribbon reels. reversible rotating mechanism therefor. mechanism for actuating and reversing said first-named mechanism according to its-extent of operation,

and ribbon-controlled means for controlling the 'extent l`ot' operation Ioi' said last-namedmechanism.

10. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a plurality of ribbon reels, vreversible rotating mechanism'therefor, mechanism lior actuating andl reversing said first-named mechanism according to its extent of operation, means for limiting the extent of oper-ation of said last-named mechanism, and ribboncontrolled means for rendering inoperative said last-named means.

11. In a device 'of the 'class described, inking ribbon. supporting means comprising reels mounted Jfor rotation for carrying said ribbon, a reel-rotating member mounted for reciprocation and arranged to coperate with one reel at a time, a member having faces diverging from an apex and mounted on fsaid-reel-rotating member, a springpressed member adapted to contact with either face of said last-named member, means for reciprocating said reel rotating m-ember, a member normally operating to limit the action of said last-named means, whereby said spring-pressed member is permitted 'to remain in Acontact with k'one Yof said faces, and means dependent upon the amount of ribbon on a reel for rendering said limiting member inoperative, whereby said reel rotating member is moved to a position wherein said spring-pressed .member coperates with said otherface and said ribbon-moving mechanism is reversed.

12. In a device of the class described, inking ribbon supporting and moving mechanism comprising .reels for winding up and unwinding the ribbon, reel-turning mechanism, said mechanism being adjustable to coperate with 'either reel, means to actuate said reel-turning mechanism, and means capable of being rendered inoperative for limiting the yoperation of said actuating means, said actua-ting means acting to change the adjustment of said mechanism upon said limiting means being rendered inloperativ-e.

13. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a

Iplurality of ribbon reels, reversible rotating mechanism for said reels, mechanism for actua-ting and reversing said first -named mechanism including a movable cam, a member for limitingv the vmovement of said cam but permitting it 'to actuate said firstlnamed mechanism to rotate said reels, 4and ribbon-controlled means for rendering inoperative said flimiting member to permit said lcam `to reverse said first-named mechanis-m.

14. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, ribbon reels having ratchet wheels in driving relation thereto, la pawl lcarrying 'member reciprocable to positions fto ycoperatie with said wheels 'one vat a time and reciprocable at said positibns to rotate said wheels,

all said reciprocations being substantially along Athe same line of movement, and means dependent upon the condition of the ribbon for controlling the reciprocation vof `said member.

1,5.. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, a reel-rotating means having a plurality of settings respectively for coperation with said reels, means for actuating said rotating means and for effecting the set-ting thereof according to the extent of operation of fsaid actuating means, and means dependent upon the condition 'of the ribbon for controlling said actuating and setting means, whereby it facts to a'ctuate said rotating means and to Aset it according to the condition of the ribbon.

16. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, means movabie t'o rotate any one 'of said lreels and movable =to c'operate with different ones lof ysaid reels 4to rotate them, means moving :to impart motion lto said first named means fand means controlling the .motion of 'oneof said means whereby said first named 'means is moved to rotate .a reel or is moved to coperate with another 'one of said reels.

A 17. In a ribbon 'supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, means movable to rotate any one of said reels and from cooperation with one to lcofperatio'n with :another 'of Isaid reels, according to the. extent of motion thereof, and means dependent on the condition of the ribbon to limit lthe movement of said -frst named means.

18. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, ribbon reels, imeans movable to rotate any one Lof ysaid reels and movable from coperation with l'one to 'cooperation with another of saidreels, and a single member to 'eiie'ct the movement of said lirst named means to cause it to rotate vone of said reels or 'to move it from, `cooperation with vvone to cooperation with another 'of said reels according to the condition fof the ribbon.

'19. In a .ribbon supporti-ng mechanism, a plurality of ribbon reels, means for rotating said reels and adjustable for coperation with dierent reels, yieldable means for actuating said last named means to cause it to rotate said reels or to move it to diiieren't :adjustments 'according to the veX- tent of operation of said second mentioned means, and means dependent upon the condition oi the ribbon for Iobstructing the operation of'said last mentioned means 20. In va ribbon supporting mechanism, a plurality of .ribbon reels, *actuating members respectively for ear-ch reel, means constantly operating said members, :and means for transmitting motion Yto said reels from said members and adjustable vfor `copera- Ition with different lones of nsaid members,

according to the Icondition of the ribbon. '21. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, a

iso

plurality of ribbon reels, actuating members respectively for each reel, yieldable means for operating said members, means for transmitting motion to said reels from said members, according toy the setting thereof, said members acting to change the setting of said last mentioned means according to the extent of motion of said-members, and means dependent upon the condition of the ribbon for limiting the extent of motion of said members.

22. In a ribbon supporting mechanism, ribbon supporting reels, a member reciprocable at positions corresponding to said reels to rotate said reels, means for reciprocating said member in one direction at each of said positions and a single means for reciprocating said member in another direction at each of said positions and for shifting said member from one position to another according to the condition of the ribbon.

23. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a

plurality of ribbon reels, a reel-rotating member adjustable to coperate With each f of said reels, means for eifecting the adjustment of said member and for imparting motion thereto to effect the rotation of said reels, the result effected being dependent upon the extent of action of said means and means for controlling the extent of such action dependent upon the condition of the ribbon.

24. In a ribbon-supporting mechanism, a plurality of ribbon reels, a reelrotating member adjustable to coperate with either of said reels, means having a certain extent of movement to impart motion to said member to move said reels and a different extent of movement to eect the adjustment thereof and means dependent upon the condition of the ribbon for controlling the movement of said last-named means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

PERCIVAL DIGNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

